Mitchell County Economic Development Commission
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Culver finds plenty of 'green' renovation at Osage roundtable by Deb Nicklay, Of the Globe Gazette 641-421-0531 deb.nicklay@globegazette.com Wednesday March 14, 2007 OSAGE-- Gov. Chet Culver touted the benefits of his proposed $100 million Iowa Power Fund on Wednesday at a renewable fuels roundtable that spotlighted Mitchell County entrepreneurs. And, he had plenty to hear about. The gathering offered presentations from four fledgling county businesses, from one that will soon make biomass fuel briquettes, to a Stacyville enterprise, CERMA Technologies, which distributes ceramic lubricant that owners say reduces carbon emissions from vehicles. Also attending the event at Fox River Mills were economic development officials and county and business leaders. One of Fox River Mills' buildings will soon be the home of one of the four businesses, called RENEW Energy-Briq Systems LLC. Culver's proposed state Power Fund would help Iowa's businesses expand into renewable energy, alternative fuel and green technology industries, the governor said, and "allow us to continue to be on the cutting edge" of environmental technology. "We want to be the national leader in research and development related to renewable energy," he said A new nine-member Power Fund Council would determine which projects should receive funding. The council would include representatives of the state Department of Economic Development of Natural Resources and Iowa Utilities Board as well as others from the private sector, academia and non profit groups who have expertise in renewable energy. "We need more entrepreneurs, more companies to push the envelope in research and development," Culver said. The Senate has approved $250,00 to create an Office of Renewable Energy, and the proposal is now in the House. Culver ahs proposed that legislators approve $25 million for the Power Fund this year, then build to $100 million with $25 million investments in each of the next three years. "I'm very confident we're going to have a very solid bill, a very bipartisan bill," Culver said. Mitchell County has long been a leader in environmental measure, he said, adding that Wes Birdsall, who managed Osage Municipal Utilities from 1972-1992, was an energy conservation pioneer. Fox River, he added, is home to similar environmental products and goals. Mitchell County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Brenda Dryer served as emcee for the group and helped organize the event with Fox River. "You have a tradition here," Culver said. "To carry on that tradition is a real tribute to this community. I would like this to be a model for other parts of the state." Culver listened for over an hour as business officials told of their products. Each said government support was necessary. "We're trying to keep our share of the costs low and our goal, as winds flow through our turbines...we'll have money flow down small town Main Street," said Cedar River Wind Farm organizer Don Burns. Rick Schwarck, head of Absolute Energy LLC, a new Mitchell County ethanol plant, agreed with Burns that state and federal support and funding is needed to help optimize the renewable fuels industry. In the case of the wind farm, transmission lines are needed; in the case of the ethanol plant, a mode of economical transport is needed. "We are going to hear more about ethanol plants being held captive by rail." he said. He said another "green partnership" related to the plant, largely owned by farmers, Dairyland Power, with acreage adjacent to the ethanol property, may use distiller's grain, a by-product of the process, to burn as an alternative fuel. New business is new business for an entire region, said Mason City Economic Development Corporation director Curtis Brown, who praised the roundtable. "We are tied together," he said, adding jobs created in North Central Iowa results in more jobs for the region. Teresa Nicholson, who heads up economic development for Winnebago and Worth counties, said the exposure help draw interest to the region. Jamie Zanios, director of the Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center on the North Iowa Area Community College campus, agreed. "This is an exciting time, to see people coming together, to be networking," he said. |
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